Former CDC Director Sounds Alarm on Upcoming Childhood Vaccine Schedule Changes by RFK Jr.
September 2025 marks a pivotal moment for U.S. childhood vaccination policies, as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., recently appointed Health Secretary, plans significant updates to the childhood vaccine schedule, according to Susan Monarez, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Monarez, who was abruptly removed from her CDC role earlier this month after refusing to endorse vaccine guidelines without robust scientific evidence, testified publicly about Kennedy’s intentions during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on Wednesday. This hearing marked her first major appearance since her controversial firing, an event that triggered multiple resignations among senior CDC officials in protest.
During the hearing, Monarez detailed that Kennedy is preparing to revise recommendations specifically for childhood vaccinations against COVID-19 and hepatitis B. These changes are expected to be discussed imminently at a forthcoming meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the authoritative body responsible for shaping immunization guidance nationwide.
Monarez recounted a critical early meeting with Kennedy where he demanded what she described as “blanket approval” for all upcoming vaccine recommendations. She stated, “If I could not commit to an approval to each of the recommendations, I would need to resign.” Monarez asserted that Kennedy insisted she either pre-commit to endorsing every ACIP recommendation regardless of evidence or step down from her post.
Her January 2025 op-ed in The Wall Street Journal had warned against compromising scientific integrity in vaccine policy decisions, citing pressure from Kennedy to approve guidelines without due diligence. The public testimony and Monarez’s removal have ignited debate and concern across public health circles regarding the role of science and politics in vaccine policymaking.
Experts note that changes to the childhood vaccine schedule carry significant implications for public health, as this schedule dictates immunization timing that protects children against multiple infectious diseases during vulnerable periods.
The specific content and rationale behind the proposed changes remain to be clarified at the ACIP meeting set for this week. Stakeholders and medical professionals are closely monitoring the situation to understand how it may impact vaccination practices and child health outcomes nationally.
This development comes amid heightened public scrutiny of vaccine policies following the COVID-19 pandemic, with debates intensifying around vaccine mandates, safety, and government oversight.
As it stands, the health community faces a crossroads where policy decisions may reshape the framework of childhood immunizations. Whether these changes will be grounded in scientific consensus or driven by political considerations continues to be a focal question.